Making health appointments work for everyone
Download (PDF 6.68 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch North Yorkshire undertook research on accessible health care services. They gathered feedback from 232 people between November 2025 and January 2026 about experiences of GP practices, hospitals and dentists.
Going to a healthcare appointment should be straightforward. For many people, it is not. For people who need extra support, these barriers can have a direct impact on whether they are able to attend appointments and take part in their care at all.
People told of long journeys, busy and overwhelming waiting rooms, and not being asked about the support they need. For some, this made attending appointments stressful. For others, it meant missing care altogether.
Many said they needed extra support to attend and take part in their care. However, this support was not always offered or put in place.
82% of people who needed support said they were not asked about their needs when booking their appointment.
86% said they had not been asked if they wanted their needs recorded, meaning they often had to repeat the same information.
This report looks at what is working well, where things are not working as they should, and what needs to change.